Deoxyribonucleic acid vaccines encoding antigens with rapid proteasome-dependent degradation are highly efficient inducers of cytolytic T lymphocytes

We generated plasmid expression vectors encoding ubiquitin and beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) with different intervening amino acids, allowing for the production of processed protein products that have either stabilizing or destabilizing residues at their N-termini. P815 cells transfected with plasmids encoding beta-gal with a destabilizing N-terminus did not have detectable expression beta-gal unless they were treated with inhibitors specific for the proteasome. Inhibitors of other proteolysis pathways had no such effect. Nevertheless, transfectants expressing beta-gal with different amino acid residues were equally sensitive to cytolysis by a CTL clone specific for a beta-gal peptide presented in the context of H-2Ld. In contrast to vectors encoding native beta-gal, plasmid vectors encoding beta-gal with a destabilizing residue did not induce detectable anti-beta-gal Abs when injected into skeletal muscle of BALB/c mice. However, such vectors were significantly more effective than vectors encoding native beta-gal or beta-gal with a stabilizing residue in stimulating CTL specific for P13.2, a lacZ transfectant of P815. We conclude that incorporation of strategies that enhance proteasome-dependent degradation may generate DNA vaccines that are more effective in inducing cellular immunity against targeted Ags.     

Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) endodontalis: its role in endodontal infections

Porphyromonas endodontalis (formerly Bacteroides endodontalis) is a black-pigmented anaerobic Gram-negative rod which is associated with endodontal infections. It has been isolated from infected dental root canals and submucous abscesses of endodontal origin. The presence of P. endodontalis in infected dental root canals has been correlated with symptoms of an acute infection. It is occasionally found on oral mucous membranes and periodontal pockets. P. endodontalis has shown relatively low virulence in experimental monoinfections. In anaerobic mixed infections it can play an essential role. Differences in virulence between strains have been related to capsular material. On the basis of different types of capsules, three serotypes have been described. P. endodontalis is sensitive to a wide range of antibiotics, including the penicillins, the tetracyclines, and metronidazole.     

Fatigue behaviour of a phenolic matrix composite

This paper presents results of a fatigue life investigations carried out in plate specimens of a fibre-glass-reinforced phenolic matrix composite. Tensile and Young's modulus data were obtained at four different testing temperatures (room temperature, 100, 150 and 200 °C). The fatigue S−N data were obtained at room temperature only and for two stress ratio values (R=0 and 0.4). Fatigue and tensile behaviour was assesesed in the composite with the fibres aligned in the longitudinal loading direction. The results were obtained for two values of volume fraction (0.28 and 0.42) and three different glass surface treatments. A detailed comparison of fatigue results is given taking into account several fatigue parameters and also the testing variables. Results of observations of SEM fracture surfaces are also presented.     

Narrow pulse measurement of drain characteristics of GaAs MESFETs

A measurement technique is presented which uses narrow, fast-rise-time pulses applied to both the gate and the drain of a GaAs MESFET to obtain the drain characteristics of the device. This allows the characteristics of the device to be obtained which correspond to frequencies above those at which surface and substrate traps can respond. The resulting characteristics show significant departures from those obtained using conventional long pulse and DC measurement techniques.     

An exemplar-based random walk model of speeded classification

The authors propose and test an exemplar-based random walk model for predicting response times in tasks of speeded, multidimensional perceptual classification. The model combines elements of R. M. Nosofsky's (1986) generalized context model of categorization and G. D. Logan's (1988) instance-based model of automaticity. In the model, exemplars race among one another to be retrieved from memory, with rates determined by their similarity to test items. The retrieved exemplars provide incremental information that enters into a random walk process for making classification decisions. The model predicts correctly effects of within- and between-categories similarity, individual-object familiarity, and extended practice on classification response times. It also builds bridges between the domains of categorization and automaticity.     

Spatial learning deficits in mice with a targeted glucocorticoid receptor gene disruption

Previous studies in rats using the Morris water maze suggested that the processing of spatial information is modulated by corticosteroid hormones through mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus. Mineralocorticoid receptors appear to be involved in the modulation of explorative behaviour, while additional activation of glucocorticoid receptors facilitates the storage of information. In the present study we used the water maze task to examine spatial learning and memory in mice homozygous and heterozygous for a targeted disruption of the glucocorticoid receptor gene. Compared with wild-type controls, homozygous and heterozygous mice were impaired in the processing of spatial but not visual information. Homozygous mutants performed variably during training, without specific platform-directed search strategies. The spatial learning disability was partly compensated for by increased motor activity. The deficits were indicative of a dysfunction of glucocorticoid receptors as well as of mineralocorticoid receptors. Although the heterozygous mice performed similarly to wild-type mice with respect to latency to find the platform, their strategy was more similar to that of the homozygous mice. Glucocorticoid receptor-related long-term spatial memory was impaired. The increased behavioural reactivity of the heterozygous mice in the open field points to a more prominent mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated function. The findings indicate that (i) the glucocorticoid receptor is of critical importance for the control of spatial behavioural functions, and (ii) mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated effects on this behaviour require interaction with functional glucocorticoid receptors. Until the development of site-specific, inducible glucocorticoid receptor mutants, glucocorticoid receptor-knockout mice present the only animal model for the study of corticosteroid-mediated effects in the complete absence of a functional receptor.     

Measurement of thermal lensing in Cr3+-dopedcolquiriites

The first direct measurements of thermally induced lensing in end-pumped Cr³⁺-doped LiSrAlF₆, LiSrGaAlF₆ , LiSrCaAlF₆, and LiCaAlF₆ are reported. Using a sensitive measurement technique, focal lengths as long as 40 m were measured. A thermal model has been created to determine the temperature rise as a function of position inside the laser crystal. This new model calculates the temperature distribution by considering quantum defect, upconversion, and upper state lifetime quenching as heating sources. Thermal lensing in the colquiriites is significantly reduced because of compensation of the temperature-dependent refractive index by the induced photoelastic stress inside the colquiriite crystal     

The NC-REN meets the North Carolina Information Highway

The North Carolina Research and Education Network (NC-REN), formerly known as CONCERT, is an existing video and data network, owned and operated by MCNC. NC-REN's purpose has been to provide network-based support for collaboration in the research community within the state since 1985. The first major application planned for the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) is an interactive video distance learning system. A secondary application proposed is the use of Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) as a means of providing data communications services over NCIH. The user community currently supported by NC-REN has come to expect high levels of service, reliability, interoperability and performance for data and video communications. MCNC is committed to see that NC-REN users receive service that is equal to or better than what is currently provided by the existing network. The prospect of migrating NC-REN-provided services to NCIH-provided transport has raised challenging technical and unique service issues